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The diagnosis and treatment of mastoiditis in infants are often difficult because in many cases the involvement of the mastoid give rise to few, if any, physical signs. This infection in the mastoid is supposed to be the cause of some of the nutritional disturbances in infants. It seems important, therefore, to offer a new procedure which might simplify the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
PROCEDURE
The procedure consists in introducing an appropriate aspirating needle through the outer antral wall into the cavity of the mastoid antrum. Through this needle, the contents of the mastoid antrum can be aspirated for diagnosis
Fig. 1.—Appearance of temporal bone of infant at 13 months of age. A A′ is the dotted line on level below the roof of the antrum. X shows the point of entry of the needle into the antrum.
and study. The antrum can also be washed out through